The Free National Movement (FNM) had planned to implement a Value Added Tax (VAT) within “two to three years” ...if it had been re-elected in May 2012 ...says Zhivargo Laing

Fnm Wanted Vat In 'Two-Three Years'

January 25, 2013



By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Free National Movement (FNM) had planned to implement a Value Added Tax (VAT) within “two to three years” if it had been re-elected in May 2012, a former Cabinet Minister yesterday saying it would “not have been fooling around with a gaming referendum”.

 

Acknowledging that the Government’s finances were- and continue to be - on an unsustainable path due to heavy deficit spending during the recession, Zhivargo Laing, former minister of state for finance, told Tribune Business that an Ingraham administration would have targeted VAT implementation as “an urgent priority”.

 

He disclosed that another part of the FNM’s ‘fiscal rebalancing’ strategy would have been to “wean” the likes of Bahamasair and the Water & Sewerage Corporation off taxpayer subsidies, potentially through full or partial privatisation.

 

While former prime minister, Hubert Ingraham, ruled out any attempt at tax reform during his 2007-2012 administration, Mr Laing said its focus would have turned to this had it been re-elected to office.

 

And he also took a thinly-veiled swipe at the Christie administration’s seeming preoccupation with Monday’s gaming poll, suggesting the Government was being distracted from more worthy issues that merited its full attention.

 

“We knew that passing a VAT was going to be an urgent matter, so we would not have been fooling around with a gaming referendum,” Mr Laing told Tribune Business. “A VAT would have been an urgent priority by the Ingraham administration.”

 

He added that, if re-elected, an Ingraham administration would have moved speedily to release a ‘White Paper on Tax Reform’, seeking to “get that [VAT] done in two-three years”.

 

Reminded that the former FNM administration itself had examined the potential legalisation of web shop gaming, and what needed to be done to effect this, Mr Laing said that even if a referendum/poll was required, it would not have distracted any government he was part of.

 

“If there was [a referendum], it wouldn’t have taken precedence over that,” Mr Laing said in relation to VAT and tax reform.

 

He added that an Ingraham administration would have sought to continue what it started with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), namely privatising state-owned entities - especially the loss-making ones - and getting them off the Government’s balance sheet.

 

“Whether it would have been privatisations representing some kind of private-public partnership or hybrid privatisations, the idea would have been to reduce the dependency of these entities on government subsidies,” Mr Laing told Tribune Business.

 

“It’s a huge part of the drain on the Government’s finances.”

 

Indeed, the Christie administration, through Michael Halkitis, the successor to Mr Laing in the Ministry of Finance, has articulated similar ambitions when it comes to eliminating the multi-million dollar taxpayer subsidies - running at $50-$60 million annually - to loss-makers such as ZNS, Bahamasair, the Water & Sewerage Corporation and Hotel Corporation.

 

The Government has also picked up where its predecessor left off when it comes to tax reform and VAT, and two other areas of focus identified by Mr Laing - better collection and enforcement of real property taxes, and a Debt Committee that is examining what can be done to reduce current and future debt servicing (borrowing) costs.

 

The almost-identical strategies, apart from privatisation and the timelines involved, lend credence to those who suggest that, in many cases, there are few policy differences between the FNM and the PLP - the main distinction being implementation and execution.

 

Mr Laing, meanwhile, acknowledged that the former Ingraham administration knew the fiscal deficits it was running - and corresponding increases in the national debt - were “unsustainable”.

 

“We did the kind of spending we did at the height of the recession as counter-cyclical financing,” he said. “We demonstrated what we would have done; revenue measures, spending cuts. To clear the fiscal deficit we were looking at a number of things.

 

“It was unsustainable, the level of deficits we were sustaining during the recession. We knew we cannot stay on that same path.

 

“We knew it would have an impact on our fiscal circumstances, and once the recession passed we started to take revenue measures, increasing taxes in some areas, cutting expenditure in some, and happened to be criticised by those people who refuse to do the same thing.”

 

Mr Laing also hit at the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) criticism of holding a Mid-Year Budget between 2007 and 2012, suggesting its recent emphasis on next month’s announcement showed it had performed a policy ‘u-turn’.

 

“For five years they called it useless, unnecessary,” he added of the Mid-Year Budget. “I would have thought that after five years they would have abandoned that, and found a more creative and innovative way to do the public finances.

 

“This is supposed to be the smartest generation of people, with the smartest ideas, to turn this around.

 

“But this same set of people, who criticised us for spending, followed it up with even more spending at a $550 million deficit.”

 

Tribune 242

 

Caribbean Blog International

 

Philip “Brave” Davis - The Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader - Questions The Governing Free National Movement (FNM) Road to Nowhere

Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis M.P.
Deputy Leader of The Progressive Liberal Party


HOW MUCH FOR SEVEN MILES OF AIRPORT HIGHWAY?


The Tribune of 4th October 2010 reported “The prime minister formally signed agreements for the $70.8 million highway project with two China State Companies; the China Export Import Bank and the China Construction Company on Thursday at the British Colonial Hilton” referring to the signings on the previous Thursday, 30th September 2010.

Since the government decided to give a contract to a foreign state owned construction company to build some seven miles of highway from the airport to the roundabout at Farrington Road, Thompson Blvd, and JFK Drive at some $71Million after passing a resolution in the House of Assembly the day before to borrow $58Million from the foreign state owned China Export-Import Bank I have tried to understand what Citizens of The Bahamas were getting for our investment of @ $10,000,000 (TEN MILLION DOLLARS) PER MILE OF ROAD!!!!

Minister Zhivargo Laing said during the debate on the government’s resolution for the loan from the Chinese Export-Import Bank, in the House of Assembly that the government HAD to use the Chinese state owned China Construction company to build the road BECAUSE we are borrowing $58,000,000 from the Chinese government owned bank at a very low interest rate.

In the House of Assembly and at the subsequent press conference for the contract signing, a lot of colourful renderings were shown.

I went to the government’s website and the Works & Transport Ministry’s website in search of the airport highway description in the hope that I could begin to fathom WHY seven miles of a four lane highway with utilities being placed underground, government acquired private land (I presume), and, landscaping along the highway, should cost $10,000,000 per mile. The government has not yet put the information online.

In the absence of information to the contrary, I concluded that the same road contractors hired by the government to build the road are the people who designed the road and calculated the cost of the works to be done. There has been no competitive bid on this massive expenditure. How does the Bahamian tax payer know that she or he is getting value for money? If we are overpaying to build the road then the low interest rate has no real value. Maybe Minister Laing would kindly explain this?

Further, even if the work that is to be done really does cost $10,000,000 per mile for a total of $71,000,000, what were the alternatives considered by the government? Do we need to spend $71,000,000 to build seven miles of landscaped road way from the airport to Farrington Road? How is the Bahamian public to receive benefit for their investment?

I call on those Bahamians with the technical and financial backgrounds to guide us on a full appreciation of this matter to weigh in on the issue.
The government is not supposed to be the overlord but, rather, it should be the servant of the People answerable to the People.

14th October, 2010

myplp.com

Bahamas Blog International

The Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) rejected a resolution to borrow nearly $58 million from a Chinese bank to construct a new highway - because of its requirement to hire twice as many foreigners as Bahamians

PLP rejects loan resolution
By KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
krystel@nasguard.com:


The opposition last night rejected a resolution to borrow nearly $58 million from a Chinese bank to construct a new highway, saying the loan requirement to bring in 200 Chinese workers to build a road is something the Progressive Liberal Party cannot accept.

Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing moved the resolution yesterday in the House of Assembly to borrow $57,999,966 from the Export-Import Bank of China for the development of the airport road project.

He said the nature of the China capital export policy provides for the inclusion of Chinese labor and material. Approximately 120 Bahamians will be engaged for the project.

PLP Leader Perry Christie said given the extraordinarily hard times, it is unacceptable for the government to approve a public project that would require it to hire twice as many foreigners as Bahamians.

"Is there something in this four-lane highway that the Bahamians cannot do?Is there some component?"Christie asked.

Pointing to the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, the opposition leader said Bahamians have demonstrated in the past their ability to build roads.

The plans include the realignment of the existing John F. Kennedy Drive to create a four-lane highway from Windsor Field Road to the new six-legged roundabout.

"We gave them the work, they did a splendid job on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway,"Christie said of the Bahamian contractors.

"They did the work and they were Bahamian. So the question for me is whether or not the government considered the option of giving the Bahamians the work even though the[overall cost]of the work would have been higher."

He said at the end of the day more Bahamians would have jobs and as a result it would have a greater impact on the economy.

"This is not a private sector project like Baha Mar where the development would not take place[unless the foreign labor component is extended],"Christie said."This is a public sector project where the Government of The Bahamas has control."

Laing pointed to the low interest rate on the loan, which he said will save the government substantial sums of money.

He said the interest rate attached to the Chinese loan is two percent compared to the seven percent minimum that the government would have gotten on the open market.

Laing said if the government were to accept a loan with a seven percent interest rate, the government would have to pay $43 million in interest alone. By comparison the Chinese loan would attract $10.7 in interest.

But Christie said the government made the"wrong decision".

"We have given close consideration to this resolution. We understand the dynamics. We feel that the best decision would have been to have Bahamian contractors to build and we also believe that the economy would be impacted greater than the impact it would have with the Chinese,"Christie said.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham pointed out that under the Christie administration 60 work permits were granted to Chinese to assist with the construction of T.G. Glover Primary School.

However, Christie said the circumstances were vastly different.

For example, he said the economy at that time was growing and the unemployment level was nowhere near where it is now.

"At the same time, we had a sector where construction jobs, where a contractor, had the right to make a case to the immigration department for work permits, and at a time when jobs were not the question,"he said.

"At the time the immigration department gave work permits to a Bahamian contractor to help with construction but today the government has total control over the work that is being done. The Bahamas government is issuing the work itself."

9/23/2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

The majority of Branville McCartney support is on the outside of his party - the Free National Movement (FNM)

Branville 'lacking Cabinet support'
tribune242:



ALTHOUGH widely considered to be a "popular Member of Parliament" by the voting public, FNM MP Branville McCartney does not share that same level of support among his former cabinet colleagues, The Tribune has been informed.

Out of a cabinet of 17 persons, sources close to the Bamboo Town MP said Mr McCartney could have the backing of possibly only "three or four" ministers.

This support, however, is said to grow when one considers there are a few "disgruntled" backbenchers within the party who would like to see a change in the party's leadership.

A senior FNM told The Tribune: "For right now, the majority of Branville's support is on the outside of the party. So his allies, within the organisation, will have to be in a wait-and-see mode. You don't want to be the man to put up your hand in support of him and draw back a stump."

Another voting delegate within the FNM said Mr McCartney would be wise to implement a "wait and see" position at this time, as he should not allow "outside influences" to move him before "the right time."

"In politics, timing is everything. Having political capital, and knowing what to do with it, are two completely different things. It is also very hard to remove a leader who all you can say about him is that you don't like his style. So ambition, in this instance, must learn to pace itself," he said.

Currently, if Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham were to step aside as leader of the FNM by the end of the year, the governing party could see a six-way race for its leadership post.

Among the names being touted as persons interested in becoming the next possible leader of the organisation are: Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing, Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest, Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes, the chairman of the party Carl Bethel, and, of course, the former Minister of State for Immigration Branville McCartney.

August 19, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Zhivargo Laing - State Minister for Finance says the government presented a budget (2010/2011) that's designed to cope with a crisis if it occurs

Laing: Budget Prepares For The Future
By Kendea Jones:


More than a month after the Ingraham administration presented its 2010/2011 Budget, State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing is still fighting off a firestorm of criticisms, claiming that the government made the best move for the country. The new fiscal plan, which takes effect on Thursday, has a rash of cuts and tax increases.

For instance, come July 1, the government will introduce a 65 per cent rate for cars that are 2,000 ccs or fewer, a 75 per cent rate for cars between 2,000 and 2,500 and an 85 per cent rate for all other cars, except hybrids, which face the lower duty of 25 per cent.

According to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, this allows many fuel-efficient, four-cylinder vehicles to be covered under a rate of duty that is mid-way between the low and high rates.

"I think there were some adjustments made for the timing of when the cars will come in and some provisions made for persons who would have imported vehicles between the 26th June and July 1 when those rates take effect," Minister Laing explained.

"Commercial credits will be granted to auto dealers and a refund to individuals who would have imported vehicles during that period."

But according to the state minister, not only did the government present a budget that would sustain the country for the next 12 months but beyond that timeframe.

"The reality is that we presented the budget we did so that we could put ourselves in a position where we could cope with a crisis if it occurs," he said.

"We didn’t want to grow the debt in the midst of the crisis. So, we are looking to claw back some of the damage and put ourselves in the position that if a hurricane damages The Bahamas, we would be able to respond. If there is a crisis we would be able to do what is necessary to respond to it."

Minister Laing also again dispelled the notion that the government is broke as "ludicrous."

"The government couldn’t pay salaries if it did not have money. This is a question of putting the fiscal house in the position that you are able to operate in a sustainable manner; meaning that you are not doing something that is going to cause you to be unable to maneuver," he said.

"We are not doing something that is going to cause such a heavy load on future generations. The government is not going to spend widely today, as if there is no tomorrow. Anything can happen tomorrow."

The 2010/2011 Budget allocates some $1.55 billion for recurrent expenditure and more than $265 million for capital expenditure.

Government debt at the end of June 2011 is projected to stand at 49.2 percent of GDP, up from 47.3 percent a year earlier.

June 30th, 2010

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

Zhivargo Laing: The Bahamas' best interest is worth the Free National Movement's (FNM's) political life

Laing: Nation's best interest worth FNM's political life
By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:



The austerity measures the government is proposing in the 2010/2011 budget were borne out of absolute necessity, Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing said yesterday while contributing to debate on the new spending plan in the House of Assembly.

Over the past year and a half, the government has borrowed and spent millions of dollars to fund various initiatives in response to the economic downturn.

As a result, the national debt is nearing $4 billion.

But Laing said now that the economy is modestly rebounding, it is time for the government to try to right the country's finances.

He acknowledged that the measures that the government is taking could lead to some political fallout. Nonetheless, he said it is something that had to be done.

"To do the necessary is sometimes unpleasant, but always correct and always rewarding," he said.

"If sometimes you have to spell your political death, then march toward it. The truth is that this nation's best interest is worth our political life. We labored over many months, many hours to produce this budget. It is a challenging budget."

However, he added that it is "loaded with adequate provisions for every government ministry while all around the world civil servants are losing their jobs. We made provisions for every single civil servant to stay and they have seen not cuts in their salaries."

The government is seeking to increase the stamp tax on realty transaction, stamp tax on banks, hotel room tax, air and sea departure tax, vehicle tax, and the beer tax.

Additionally, all parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, will take a pay cut.

Other cost-saving measures are proposed, including a stall on increments for public officers. Public service promotions are being frozen, except in special cases and public service employment is being frozen, except in extenuating circumstances, such as essential services.

Laing said there is no other way to enhance revenue but to increase taxes.

"The point is we should have a debate one day about this fundamental adjustment that we need to make to our circumstances, but over the next 12 months, we have to get revenue. We have to produce the revenue in a way that does not injure the people of the Bahamas," he said.

Laing said the country must begin to reduce the deficit and eventually begin lowering its debt to GDP.

Ingraham recently said the government debt at the end of June 2011 is projected to stand at 49.2 percent of GDP, up from 47.3 percent a year earlier.

Laing said the budget has long term implications that bode well for the country's future sustainability.

"For the next 12 months we have to attend to the business of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. All of us are being called upon to act in a way to best assist the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to be better off financially," he added.

Laing noted that in some other countries public servants are being sent home.

He added that the majority of the taxes are levied at international sources and banks and not at the average Bahamian.

Laing also said the government is focused on its mission and vision for the country to have a dynamic and growing middle class, a level of saving for retirement, high levels of success for entrepreneurs and a modest level of taxation.

"That remains our vision and mission," he said.

"Our effort in this 2010/11 budget is geared towards putting us in a better position to fulfill that vision and mission."

June 10, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Bahamas Government Debt To Worsen

GOVT DEBT TO WORSEN
By CANDIA DAMES ~ Guardian News Editor ~ candia@nasguard.com:


A rising government deficit and persistent revenue vulnerability will continue to drive government debt up in the near future, according to international credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, which says in a report that government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) will climb to more than 50 percent by next year.

The report fleshes out the details of the agency's initial assessment of the Bahamian economy and the fiscal and monetary conditions revealed late in 2009.

While the expanded report points to increasing debt levels — as did the initial assessment — all the news is not so gloomy.

As it regards unemployment, the agency projects that joblessness will drop from 14.5 percent this year to 12 percent next year. A further decline to 10 percent is projected in 2012.

But S&P said foreign direct investments will slow further this year, and it repeated previous projections that the economy will likely decline by 0.5 percent in 2010 and grow in 2011 for the first time in three years. The growth next year is expected to be 2 percent.

While debt levels are projected to remain pressured in the immediate future, the agency made the point that current government debt levels temporarily provide some space for fiscal weakening compared to similarly rated countries. Compared to many of its peers, The Bahamas' debt levels are in a favorable position, the report noted.

"We project debt levels to rise, but domestic markets will provide most of the financing," said S&P.

The agency projects that general government debt — which stood at 32.8 percent in 2006 — will climb to 49.5 percent this year, move up to 51.9 percent next year and increase further to 52.4 percent in 2012.

Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing noted last night that the new report provides a more comprehensive story on what had been published by Standard & Poor's late last year.

Regarding the debt projections, Laing said the government will be able to comment more fully on what its views are on where the country will likely be when the budget communication is presented next month.

Asked whether there is cause for concern as it regards debt levels, he said, "Any sound fiscal management program rests on wanting to control debt to the extent possible. In fact, nobody would borrow if they didn't have to, but where it is necessary it has been a part of the government's fiscal program for some time.

"In an extraordinary economic climate there's some extraordinary borrowing. We now have weathered the worst of it so we're now seeking to return to levels of borrowing and deficit spending that are more in keeping with what has been our objective in times past. So to the extent that we have no difficulty servicing our debt there is no concern. To the extent that we want to ensure that we don't continue to grow the debt to a place where that could be a problem one is always concerned to do that."

According to the report, the general government deficit rose sharply and likely will average 4.7 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. General government deficits averaged 1.4 percent of GDP from 2000 to 2007.

The report explained that increased spending against a narrow revenue base, which has declined amid the economic recession, led to larger deficits.

S&P said the higher deficits reflect government policy to alleviate the social impact of the economic recession and to support growth. The report points to the government's unemployment benefit program, the temporary jobs program and accelerated capital works projects.

The agency said, "Deficit financing comes predominantly from domestic sources, a credit strength for The Bahamas. The structure of the debt remains favorable, though it has recently relied more on foreign debt. Domestic debt accounted for 90 percent of total debt in 2007, which declined slightly to 88 percent in 2008 and further to 80 percent in 2009."

S&P pointed out that the government had hoped to receive between US$200 million and US$300 million in proceeds from the sale of a 51 percent stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company in the first half of 2010 to alleviate financing needs.

"However, the government has once again postponed the privatization following seemingly disappointment with the bids and prices offered at the end of 2009," the report said.

The ratings agency said it expects foreign direct investments (FDI) to remain low in 2010.

"FDI totaled US$600 million during the first nine months of 2009, compared with US$1 billion in full-year 2008," S&P said. "We expect FDI to slow further in 2010 as tourism projects progress slowly."

The report said FDI projects that appear to have staying power are those that eventually will serve high-end customers or a niche group of tourists, as well as those that will provide residential tourism products.

The agency said, "Once buoyant prospects for a major expansion of tourism projects, totaling more than US$10 billion over the next five to 10 years, are more subdued."

In the report S&P repeats a controversial statement it made in a previous report.

It said, "After posting real GDP growth of 5.7 percent in 2005, momentum slowed sharply and then the economy contracted. In 2007, the increase in real GDP was a mere 0.7 percent as growth was interrupted, first by the elections and then by the new administration's protracted period of reviewing contracts after it came into office in May 2007.

"The review of $80 million worth of contracts and the eventual cancellation of a $23 million public contract for the straw market negatively affected investor sentiment and brought substantial disruption to the contracts' activity."

It noted that the straw market project did not move back on track until December 2009, when the government signed a construction contract.

As noted in its summary release at the end of 2009, the agency placed The Bahamas' sovereign credit rating at BBB+/Stable/A-2. This compares to the A-/Negative/A-2 rating it gave in November 2008.

Regarding the December 2009 rating, S&P said, "The stable outlook reflects Standard & Poor's expectation that the government will gradually reduce its fiscal deficit and will maintain a generally stable external financing profile. We do not expect The Bahamas' tourism product to improve sharply until the U.S. economic (and U.S. consumer) recovery has consolidated."

April 30, 2010

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

Melissa Sears resigns as a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) vice chairman

Melissa Sears resigns as a PLP vice chairman
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:


RISING star in the Progressive Liberal Party, Melissa Sears, has resigned her post as vice chairman of the PLP.

Bradley Roberts, PLP chairman, said he received a resignation letter from Ms Sears on April 20. The letter did not indicate the reason for her resignation, and Mr Roberts said he has yet to speak with her to gain further insight into her reason for resigning.

Ms Sears made an impression on the PLP leadership in 2008 when she delivered a speech at the party's convention. She was voted into office during the October 2009 PLP Convention.

"Melissa is an outstanding young woman who has a career in politics. She is an outstanding orator and has her hands around the issues facing people. She believes in people and has committed herself to helping the least among us. Her decision does not mean her political life is over or her relationship with the PLP," said Obie Wilchcombe, West End Member of Parliament. Ms Sears endorsed Mr Wilchcombe for deputy leader of the party when he contested the seat last year.

"She was the bright star of the (2008) convention and demonstrated then her tremendous oratory skills and her passion for people and her courage and determination as a fighter, which is required in front line politics," said Mr Wilchcombe.

Ms Sears had been touted as a potential candidate for the PLP in Marco City, Grand Bahama. This seat was formerly contested by Pleasant Bridgewater, against the FNM's Zhivargo Laing.

Ms Sears grew up in Marco City, but Mr Wilchcombe said she would be a qualified candidate for a number of Grand Bahama constituencies.

He said she had never written to the party to express interest in being a candidate, or applied formally. However, the party had been trying to encourage her.

"We have over the years sought to convince her to be a candidate. There comes a time when a party must recruit and look for the best and the brightest and she has proven that she is prepared to serve and not to be served. So she is one of those persons who we certainly would love to see carry the banner and be a standard bearer," said Mr Wilchcombe. "I believe this might be considered by some a bump in the road or a step backward, but I don't see it that way."

April 26, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part II

By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:



HOW did the MPs spend $200,000 made available to each of them for constituency enhancement projects in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 budgets?

Having sought an accounting from all 40 MPs, 16 responded -- 15 FNMs and one PLP.

Here is part two of our report on what they say they spent the money on. See tomorrow's Tribune for part three:


Earl Deveaux - FNM - Marathon:

Mr Deveaux, Minister of the Environment, reported having committed $189,000 of the $200,000 allocation. He did not break down what was spent in each year, but listed the work and services purchased for the constituency as follows:

$15,000 for park benches, $10,000 to pave the entrance to RM Bailey Park, $14,000 for computers, $50,000 for a clean-up of the constituency, $40,000 towards the redevelopment of the RE Cooper and Florence Garden Parks, $40,000 for the CI Gibson High School park and $20,000 for a wall, swings and a basketball court at the Lou Adderley park.


Hubert Ingraham - FNM - North Abaco:

The Prime Minister allocated the entire $200,000 towards funding the construction of a public beach facility at the northern end of Treasure Cay beach.

The facilities include nine cabanas, a main building, restroom facilities, walking paths, parking, electrical, water and telephone connections to central supply and sporting facilities. Mr Ingraham noted that the balance of the funding is being provided by government. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.


Zhivargo Laing- FNM - Marco City:

Mr Laing, also Minister of State for Finance, gave a very detailed accounting of what was by far the most diverse range of projects and programmes any MP chose to fund or construct using his or her constituency allowance. In 2007/2008 this involved committing $41,042 to a "Constituency Schools Support Programme."

From this figure, $4,000 went to support the participation of the Jack Hayward Senior High in Junior Junkanoo and $4,000 to support Walter Parker Primary School's participation in Junior Junkanoo. $25,067 was spent on the purchase of computers for area schools. All three local primary schools in Marco City, except Walter Parker Primary, received four desktops, a laptop computer for the administration, a backup battery pack and a printer. Walter Parker did not receive computers because it had recently been donated a number of computers by a local civic group.

The funds also covered the purchase of one computer that was donated to an area church, Sunland Lutheran Church's community centre. Another $2,100 was donated to support the Grand Bahama High Schools attendance at the Hugh Campbell Tournament in March 2008. $4,675 went towards repairs to Walter Parker Primary School's bathroom and $1,200 was directed to assist The Technical and Vocational Department at Jack Hayward High School.

$2,683 was spent on tuition assistance for four to six young ladies to receive training in clerical business courses (typing and computers) for local training programme. A "Marco City Christmas Cleanup Campaign", which conducted clean up campaigns in Winchester Circle, Beaconsfield, Mayfield Park, utilised $20,200 of the allowance for the year and engaged some 15 young men during a six week cleanup period.

Another $14,700 was spent on contracting a coordinator and purchasing equipment necessary to begin establishing a discount card programme for elderly and disabled residents that could be used at various Grand Bahama stores. (Mr Laing noted that the programme is still waiting to be fully launched due to a delay in securing the participation of major food stores, but is proposed to begin in March 2010.)

The MP also donated a total of $14,700 from the allowance to community organisations and events: the Marco City Urban Renewal for Disabled Persons Luncheon, $1,500; the Zion Baptist Church Pantry Programme, $1,000; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Community Centre Project, $4,000; Pathfinders Organization, $1,200; Youth Football Programme, $1,500; Youth Basketball Tournament, $1,200; Freeport Seventh-Day Adventist Youth Club, $3,000; Legends Marching Band, $1,000; Reach Out Ministries, $300; Jack Hayward High School Literacy Programme and a donation to Junkanoo Group, $3,000; donation to Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group, infrastructure, $3,965; blowing out of storm drains in area, $1,200; air condition installation in Computer Centre in Constituency Office, $2,756.

$14,400 was allocated to summer youth programmes in the constituency. This went towards the cost of park wardens and summer camp coordinators, sporting activities, crafts and lunch for children in three camps on three parks for four weeks.

Through these projects Mr Laing utilised the $100,000 for the year.

Using the further $100,000 made available the following year - 2008/2009 - the Marco City Backyard Farming Programme was able to be established, among other projects.

$22,585.44 was allocated to assist 120 residents to establish backyard farms. Funds were spent on a coordinator, engaging three farmers to act as advisers to residents, four young Bahamians who assisted residents in ploughing and prepping their farms, purchased seeds, seedlings and soil. Money was also allocated towards assisting area schools with their farms. Under the Elderly and Disabled Persons Roof Repair Programme $28,010.20 was spent to repair the roofs of about 10 elderly people's homes which had been leaking since the hurricanes in 2004. All roofing contracts were approved by the Ministry of Public Works and all contractors were approved by Ministry of Public Works, Mr Laing noted.

$20,000 was spent on a Community Clean Up Campaign which engaged 10 young men over some four to six weeks. A School Assistance Programme saw $5,000 donated to the Walter Parker Primary School Silver Jubilee Celebrations; $3,050 towards the installation of a public address system for Freeport Primary and $1,500 for the Beacon School Junior Junkanoo Programme. Donations totalling $19,655 were made to the Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group ($3,000), the Knights of Columbus Marching Band ($5,055); the Marco City Urban Renewal for Purchase of four computers and printers ($2,000); the Grand Bahama Secondary School Sporting Association for the participation of Grand Bahama schools in the Hugh Campbell Tournament ($3,000).

$500 was given to the Grand Bahama Regatta Association; $500 to the No More Victims of Crime group; $1,000 to the Healing Hands Ministry, $3,000 Central Church of God Home for the Elderly; and $600 towards the participation of two Freeport Primary School students in a track and field event in the United States.

These efforts and donations utilised a total of $99,800.64 from the constituency allowance.


January 20, 2010
01202010


How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - part I

How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part III

How Bahamian Members of Parliament (MPs) spent their $200,000 allocation - Part IV



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